Probate records and wills are available online from all over the U.S. and are what I consider another hidden gem of information that can assist you in advancing your family history and genealogy research.
What can you find in these records? How about date of death, spouses and children names, birth order, siblings and siblings spouses, parents names, and residence locations for all named persons. Also, ownership of land and/or other significant property, business names and occupation, military service, guardianships, and adoptions. Basically anything owned by the deceased is typically listed and to whom it is to be assigned to.
I won't pretend to be an expert on the probate process - all I know is that I have discovered an amazing amount of good information from probate records and wills as part of my personal genealogy research.
Here are a few good primers on the benefits of searching probate documents and wills:
- FamilySearch - United States Probate Records
- Wills and Probate Records are Genealogy Riches
- How to Use Wills and Estate Records to Learn About Your Ancestors
- Probate Records Could Be the Key to Unlocking Your Family’s Hidden Past
Below, listed by state are links to probate records, wills, and indexes available for free online.
Note: Please be aware that if you find a desired will or probate record in an index, that the holder of the actual materials (e.g., (archive, county court, etc.) may charge a small fee to send you a copy of the material itself.
Note: Some of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections' images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital.
(Updated August, 2020; recently added links are in BOLD)
- Adams County Chancery Case Files, 1827-1854
- Adams County Chancery Records, 1837-1935
- Adams County Conservator's Bonds and Letters, vols. 89, 189; 1897-1935
- Adams County Estate Records, ca. 1832-1938; Index, 1830-1964
- Adams County Letters of Administration, Bonds and petitions, 1857-1925
- Adams County Letters of Administration, de bonis non (of the goods not Administered), 1900-1932; with Will annexed, 1900-1929
- Adams County Original Wills and Probate papers, ca. 1836-1922, 1930, 1933; partial Index, v. 1, 1909-1951
- Adams County Probate bonds, Books 1 & 2, 1827-1849
- Adams County Probate Letters of Administration, Books B & C, 1826-1849
- Adams County Probate Letters of testamentary, 1883-1925
- Adams County Probate Orders and Decrees, 1849-1943
- Adams County Probate related Letters and Bonds, 1850-1890
- Adams County Record of Wills, vol. 1, 1897-1920
- Adams County Widow's relinquishment and selection, 1883-1954
- Adams County Will boxes, ca. 1871-1931, 1932 (1 Will) 1935 (1 Will); Index, 1837-1964
- Adams County Will Records, 1837-1908; Index to Probate Records, 1830-1969
- Adams County, Records of Wills, 1907-1925
- Alexander County Probate Records, 1819-1902; Index to Probate Files, 1820-1971
- Brown County Administrators' Records, 1849-1936
- Brown County Executors's Records, vols. B-E, 1869-1928
- Brown County Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1879-1903, 1908 (1), 1913 (1), 1914 (2), 1917 (1)
- Brown County Probate Records, 1844-1922; Indexes, ca. 1844-1964
- Brown County Probate related Records, vols. AA-27, 1839-1923
- Brown County Will Packets, ca. 1873-1963
- Brown County Wills, 1869-1927
- Bureau County, Probate Records : Probate case Files, 1833-1931
- Bureau County, Probate Records : Wills, 1837-1944
- Calhoun County Estate Records and Wills, 1829-1916
- Calhoun County Probate Records, 1859-1904
- Cass County Probate Book A Abstracts, July 1837 – January 1848
- Cass County, Probate Book C Abstracts, 1849-1852
- Champaign County Probate Packets, ca. 1835-1886; Index, 1835-ca. 1920
- Champaign County Probate Packets, ca.1877-1900
- Champaign County Probate Records, ca. 1851-1921
- Champaign County Probate Records, v. 1-2, 1833-1851
- Champaign County, Abstract of Wills 1887-1895
- Christian County Probate Journal, 1839-1886
- Christian County Probate Records, 1839-1919
- Clay County Probate Records, 1837-1925
- Clinton County Estate Files, 1855-1863, 1866-1873
- Clinton County Probate Records, 1825-1899
- Clinton County Will Record, 1857-1928
- Coles County Will Records, 1846-1925
- Coles County Will Records, ca 1844-ca 1890
- Cook County Probate Case Search
- Cook County, Probate Court Records : docket Book A, 1871-1872
- Cook County, Wills Filed 1850-1915
- Crawford County Probate Indexes
- Crawford County, Probate Record 5, 1837-39
- Crawford County, Probate Court rec D, 1843-1847
- De Witt County Administrative Records, 1866-1900
- De Witt County Record of Wills, 1862-1923
- DeKalb County DeKalb County, Administrator's Records, 1859-1915
- DeKalb County DeKalb County, Appraisement Records, 1871-1919
- DeKalb County DeKalb County, Estate Records, 1859-1931
- DeKalb County DeKalb County, Executors' Records, 1859-1911
- DeKalb County DeKalb County, Report Records, 1871-1915
- DeKalb County DeKalb County, Widow Records, 1909-1920
- DeKalb County DeKalb County, Will Records
- DeKalb County, Guardians inventory Records, 1859-1920
- DeKalb County, Probate Records, ca. 1837-1972
- Douglas County Wills and Probates, 1869-1927
- Edgar County Unprobated Wills
- Edwards County Probate Court Files, 1815-1864; Index, 1815-1869
- Edwards County Will Records, 1815-1922
- Edwards County, Probate Records, 1831-1885
- Effingham County Probate Records, 1838-1920
- Effingham County, Estate settlements & genealogy
- Effingham County, Wills and Estate settlements, 1836-1882
- Elgin Probate Records Index
- Fayette County Probate Records (transcriptions)
- Fayette County Probate Records, 1821-1884
- Fayette County Will and Executor's Records, 1859-1922
- Franklin County Index to Estate papers, vol. 2, 1848-1970
- Franklin County Probate settlement, vol. C, 1875-1884
- Franklin County Will Book A, 1845-1879
- Franklin County Will Records, vol. A-B, 1835-1922
- Fulton County Chancery Court Records, 1824-1923
- Fulton County Estate Packets, ca. 1830-1922
- Fulton County Guardian and conservator Packets, ca. 1844-1923
- Fulton County Will Records, 1835-1924; Probate Records, 1827-1931; Guardian Records, 1859-1926; conservator Records, 1870-1933; related Records, 1894-1931
- Gallatin County Order Book, 1813-1838
- Gallatin County Probate Files, 1815-1860
- Gallatin County Probate Record, 1860-1887
- Gallatin County Will and Bond Records, 1814-1931
- Gallatin County, Estates Settled 1821 to 1838
- Greene County Estate Index, 1836-1981; inventory Records, 1864-1927
- Greene County Will Records, 1836-1921
- Hamilton County Probate Files, 1823-1855; Index, 1823-1970
- Hamilton County Will Records, vol. A-B, 1823-1933
- Hancock County Probate Records, ca. 1831-1942
- Hancock County Accounts current, 1849-1878
- Hancock County Administrators and executors Records, 1859-1925
- Hancock County Claim Records, 1840-1866; Index, 1893-1934
- Hancock County Conservator's Record and law, 1879-1908
- Hancock County Executor's Records, 1865-1928
- Hancock County Guardianship Records, 1849-1938; Index, 1833-1972
- Hancock County Index to Probate Records, 1833-1942
- Hancock County Inventory, appraisement and sales bills, 1892-1916
- Hancock County Letters of Administration with Will annexed, 1886-1920
- Hancock County Probate & Court Records, ca. 1850-1963
- Hancock County Probate Journals, 1839-1923; Indexes, 1849-1964
- Hancock County Probate Records, 1831-1912; Estate Index, 1831-1972
- Hancock County Widow's relinquishment and selection, 1879-1925
- Hancock County Will Records, 1911-1922
- Hardin County Probate Court Record, 1884-1888, and Will Record, 1888-1926
- Henderson County Miscellaneous Probate Records and bonds, 1859-1939
- Henderson County Probate Records, 1841-1923
- Henderson County Probate Records, 1843-1928
- Henry County Administrator's Records, 1856-1930
- Henry County Conservator's Bonds and Letters, 1907-1930
- Henry County Executor's Records, 1858-1923
- Henry County Guardian's Records and Index, 1856-1928
- Henry County Index to Estate papers
- Henry County Minutes, 1844-1923
- Henry County Probate Record Book of appraisals, inventories, and Estate sales, 1840-1 927
- Henry County Widow's relinquishments and selections, 1860-1926
- Henry County Will Records and Index, 1852-1924
- Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1970
- Jackson County Probate Indexes
- Jackson County Probate Records, 1840-1922
- Jasper County Probate Records, 1835-1972
- Jasper County Will Records, 1850-1937
- Jersey County Probate Records, 1839-1940
- Jo Daviess County Wills and Estates
- Jo Daviess County Will Records, 1829-1921
- Jo Daviess county, Probate Records, 1829-1965
- Johnson County Probate Records, 1822-1888
- Johnson County Probate Records, 1859-1948
- Kane County Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1837-1922
- Kankakee County Probate & Will Records, 1853-1928
- La Salle County Court minutes, 1831-1923
- La Salle County Guardian Records, 1847-1905; Docket Book, 1883-1913; Index to Guardian papers, 1850-1945
- La Salle County Wills, 1847-1923
- LaSalle County Genealogy Guild Probate Index
- Lee County, Probate Estate Files, 1830-1960
- Livingston County Probate Records, 1837-1905
- Livingston County Probate Records, 1838-1894
- Livingston County Probate Case Files Index (1837–1958)
- Logan County Probate Records, 1855-1949
- Logan County Will Records, 1855-1930
- Macon County Probate #9368
- Macon County Probate Court Records, 1831-1847
- Macon County Estate Files, 1830-1885; Index, 1830-1972
- Macon County Will Records, 1847-1916
- Macoupin County Probate Indexes
- Macoupin County Probate Records, 1835-1939
- Madison County Probate Books and Probate Indexes
- Madison County Probate Records, 1818-1981
- Madison County Probate Case Files Index (1813–1903)
- Marion County Probate Records, 1823-1909
- Marion County Will Records, 1857-1917; Estate Index, 1850-1873
- Mason County Will Records, 1857-1922
- Massac County Probate Records, 1846-1894
- McDonough County Probate Case Files Index (1833-1925)
- McHenry County Index to Estate Files, v. 4, 1840-1986
- McHenry County Probate Packets, 1840-1957
- McHenry County Wills, 1898-1923
- McLean County Probate Record Index (1834–1934)
- Menard County Probate File Index 1839-1963
- Menard County Wills Indexes and Transcriptions
- Menard County Probate Records, 1839-1937
- Mercer County, Probate Records, 1834-1942
- Monroe County Estate Files, 1820-1885
- Monroe County Index to Estates, 1845-1885
- Montgomery County Probate Records, 1850-1914
- Montgomery County Will Records and widow's relinquishment, 1849-1925
- Morgan County Wills and Probate Indexes
- Morgan County Will Records, 1824-1929
- Moultrie County Will Records and Estate File Index, 1862-1964
- Ogle County Probate Records, Records of Wills, related Records, ca. 1838-1940
- Peoria County Probate Case Files Index (1825–1887)
- Perry County Probate Records, 1864-1889
- Perry County Will Records, 1860-1917
- Piatt County Probate Record, 1843-1887
- Piatt County Will Record, 1850-1918
- Pike County Probate Records, 1821-1873
- Pike County Will Records, ca 1850-1923; Index, 1850-1950
- Pope County Index to Estate and miscellaneous papers, vol. 1, 1816-1950
- Pope County Probate Records and journals, 1819-1888
- Pope County Will Record, vol. A, 1861-1916
- Probate Journals, 1838-1922 and Index 1823-1922, Hamilton County
- Probate Records, 1836-1981 [Greene County]
- Probate Records, Hancock County, 1831-1940
- Pulaski County Index to Probate Files, 1862-1973
- Pulaski County Probate Journal, 1862-1890
- Putnam County, Probate Records, 1832-1943
- Randolph County Administrator's Records, 1844-1849
- Randolph County Probate Estate docket, vol. B, 1869-1878
- Randolph County Probate Records, 1809-1886
- Randolph County Wills, 1800-1916
- Rock Island County Estate Case Files, 1834-1959
- Rock Island County Index to Rock Island County Probate Files (accession 2/0112/19) 1834-1899 : with several 20th century Files
- Rock Island County Probate Index, 1908-1983
- Rock Island County Will Records, 1837-1934 ; Guardian's Record, 1859-1925
- Rock Island County, Will abstracts
- Rock Island Probate Case Files Index (1834–1899)
- Saline County Probate Records, 1847-1922
- Sangamon County Probate Records, 1821-1922
- Sangamon County Probate Case Files Index (1821–1906)
- Sangamon County Sangamon County Wills, conservatorships, guardianships, Appraisements, 1821-1982
- Schuyler County Wills, order Books, Letters, Administrators and Guardians, Bonds - 1827-1926
- Scott County Probate entry Books, 1852-1924
- Scott County Will Records (oath of Executor and Letters of testamentary), 1835-1936
- Shelby County Probate Journal 2, 1843, 1845-1850
- Shelby County Probate Records, 1828-1922
- St. Clair County, Probate Court Records, Will Record "A" & "B"
- Stark County Guardianship Record, 1858-1912
- Stark County Probate Records, 1840-1911 ; Widows relinquishment and selection, 1887-1936
- Stark County, Probate Records Estate case Files, 1849-1930
- Stark County, Probate Records Estate Journals, 1841-1946
- Stark County, Probate Records Wills, 1911-1935
- Tazewell County Probate Records, 1827-1923
- Tazewell County Will Records, 1830-1924
- Union County Probate Records, 1818-1892; Index, 1822-1965
- Vermilion County Will Records, 1827-1922; Index, 1826-1977
- Warren County Probate Index card File, 1831-1983
- Warren County Administrators Letters and Bonds, 1854-1856
- Warren County Executors and Administrators report Record, 1920-1923
- Warren County Master Index of Will Books
- Warren County Probate Records, 1831-1924
- Warren County Will Records, 1850-1925
- White County Probate Index, 1816-1969, to boxes and fee Books
- White County Probate Journal, 1820-1874
- White County Probate Record, 1843-1848
- White County Will Records, 1816-1914
- Whiteside County Estate & other Probate Records, 1839-1922; Indexes, 1845-1943
- Whiteside County Probate Records, 1852-1904
- Williamson County Administration Index, A-Z, 1851-1971
- Williamson County Estate Book, vol. B, 1850-1859
- Williamson County Will Record, 1853-1919
- Woodford County Probate order Book, 1846-1866 ; Will Record, 1869-1925 ; Guardian Record, 1866-1908 ; Probate Record, 1745-1876
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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